Powder Blue Tang HELP

[Sharkkeeper]

I got a nice healthy 3-4 inch Powder Blue Tang two days ago from my LFS. He was in perfect shape and a good price so I bagged him up. Literally overnight I wake up and it looks like his fins are rotting away and has like black splotches towards the end of his body. Im not sure what this is. Can anyone please help?

Thanks

 

[RBU1]

Can you take pictures? Is he in your main tank or QT?

 

[Sharkkeeper]

hes in my main tank. ill try and get pics of later if i have time. hes in with a whitespotted bamboo shark and a round ray its a 240 gallon tank

 

[RBU1]

Wow thats a tough one. Well just putting a guess out. Sounds bacterial to me, and because he is in a tank with a shark, I assume, you are not getting any amonnia reading.
Not much you can do with a fish not in a treatment tank. Just keep the water quality good by doing LARGE water changes and as long as he is eating keep soaking the food in vitamins. LOTS of seaweed....I would set up a QT if I were you dont keep adding fish to your main tank. Eventually you are going to introduce something that will wipe out your entire tank. If you want to try something Melafix might be your only option. Just make sure its safe to use with sharks.

 

[Sharkkeeper]

i can set up a qt tank that wouldnt be a problem.. my guess was some type of bacterial infection too it literally happened overnight.. he still has not eaten but has been eating some algea off the glass and picking at the rocks.. my water quality is good i know thats not the problem especially cuz i got shark and a ray.. if anyone has any ideas let me know please

thanks

 

[RBU1]

Your only options are to continue to monitor and hope the fish improves or set up a tank and treat with an antibiotic like kanaplex. Have plenty of water ready to do 100% water changes. The fact you will be setting up a new tank means you will have a cycle and an amonnia spike.

 

[Sharkkeeper]

i can just take water outta my main tank and use it in the q tank so no cycle and treat him.

 

[RBU1]

i can just take water outta my main tank and use it in the q tank so no cycle and treat him.

Not true....

There is not enough bacteria in the water to do anything. You will need a well seeded media. Be prepared for an amonnia spike. If you are not careful you will kill your fish that you ar trying to save.

 

[Sharkkeeper]

i shoulda been more clear with using the water add some of my live rock and sand bed to the tank i understand exactly what your saying though